Tuesday, July 25, 2023
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has announced that the government will be unveiling a new tourist plan called ‘Visit Sri Lanka’ that will be released in the upcoming months.
According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the President claimed the proposal is in the final stages of development and would be made public as soon as it is complete.
The President stated that the government aims to attract 5 million tourists, of whom 2.5 million will be high-end visitors while emphasizing the industry as a significant economic driver.
According to Indian estimates, Sri Lanka can host up to 10 million tourists, of whom most will be tourists from Asia and the Indian Ocean region, he continued.
The President further stated that transformation of the tourism industry is required to make Sri Lanka competitive in the global travel market place and the government has recognized the potential in promoting the country as a tropical nation with a diverse culinary style.
Hence attention will be given to developing culinary tourism in the country, he said.
The government is prepared to launch a Culinary School in collaboration with the private sector, the travel industry, and the hotel industry, the President added, noting that there is a need to train more personnel in the hospitality field, particularly in culinary tourism.
Attention will also be paid to aiding private Culinary Schools in accomplishing this task, he added.
President Wickremesinghe made this statement while attending the Award Ceremony and a Gala dinner of the ‘Bocuse d’Or 2023’ competition held at the Waters Edge Grand Ballroom on Sunday (July 23).
The President also expressed admiration for the late Mr. Merrill J. Fernando, a prominent business figure and founder of Sri Lanka’s renowned ‘Dilmah Tea’ brand. He praised Mr. Fernando’s valuable contributions to the country’s tourism industry.
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